In this episode, co-host Ellie English sits down with Ursula Pottinga, Chief Operations Officer, BEabove Leadership and a Master NeuroTransformational coach, to discuss the neuroscience behind burnout, why it’s a systemic issue, and how organisations can shift from burnout to buy-in.

Ursula shares practical insights on integrating personal and professional lives, cultivating brain-friendly workplaces, and using coaching mindsets to build trust and engagement. Packed with actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for leaders and organisations seeking to create healthier, more resilient and high performing workplace cultures.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Women Leadership Reframe

01:19 Introducing Ursula Pottinga

03:11 The Human and Professional Integration

05:18 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership

12:42 Understanding Burnout and Boredom

13:17 The Role of Neuroscience in Leadership

21:03 Creating a Culture of Trust and Coaching

31:45 The Importance of Professional Coaching

32:03 Wellness Programs in Organisations

33:07 Challenges HR Leaders Face

33:34 The Value of Soft Skills

34:19 Linking Qualitative and Quantitative Performance

36:09 Overcoming Confirmation Bias

38:02 Cultivating Expansive Thinking

39:25 The Power of Personal Relevance

40:59 The Role of Neuroplasticity in Organisations

41:43 Mergers and Acquisitions: Cultural Integration

44:38 Building Brain-Friendly Workplaces

44:51 Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

51:49 Saying No with Grace and Connection

59:07 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Connect with Ursula

• Be Above Leadership: https://www.beaboveleadership.com
• Profound Growth Coaching: https://www.profoundgrowth.com
• Connect with Ursula on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ursula-pottinga
• Connect with us Ellie English at linkedin.com/in/ellieenglish2 and Hollie Rottman at linkedin.com/in/hollierottmanconsulting

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In this episode of Women Leadership Reframe, we sit down with Anna Simioni, Vice Chairwoman of the Board of the Foundation for Italian Cancer Research and Boston Consulting Group Advisor. Anna shares profound insights on redefining success, embracing generative conflict, and creating environments where women leaders can flourish rather than simply improve.

Anna's unique perspective on leadership challenges traditional notions of harmony and presents a compelling case for how productive disagreement can lead to better outcomes. She also discusses her initiative to address the concerning trend of women leaving the workforce and her innovative program at Politecnico Business School in Milan.

• (03.08 - 11:36) The shift from "improving" to "flourishing" in personal and professional growth
• (12:13 - 15:06) Why harmony isn't always the goal: embracing generative conflict
• (15:12 - 19:58) Anna's journey from her biggest hurdle being "herself and her attitude” to embracing failure and learning with a “Growth Mindset”
• (20:19 - 27:04) The power of a growth mindset in leadership development
• (28:53 - 33:51) What is generative conflict?
• (36:06 - 42:20) 2022 Wake-up call: over 95% of all voluntary terminations were women
• (43:09 - 46:34) Growth, learning and impact: a three dimensional approach to a senior women leadership program to increase impact
• (46:39 - 50:13) The power of allyship and leveraging a bigger network, embracing conflict, and leading beyond your role for bigger impact
• (51:06 - 53:31) How organizations can create environments that welcome productive disagreement

Anna Simioni is Vice Chairwoman of the Board of the Foundation for Italian Cancer Research and a member of the Board of Banca Generali. She serves as a Boston Consulting Group Advisor for People & Organization practice, after having been Executive Director. With over 16 years in executive positions and 19 years of consulting practice, Anna brings deep expertise in transformation, organizational effectiveness, behavioral changes, trust building, and leadership development.

A certified coach since 2009 with specializations in Narrative and Somatic Coaching, Anna is also a certified teacher of the Feldenkrais Method. She has been Chair member of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Learning & Innovation Laboratory. Anna holds a Business Administration degree from Università Luigi Bocconi and a master's in Human Resources from the University of Michigan School of Business.

"Success is really being able to put your power at the service of your purpose."

"Life is never in harmony... What matters is how you recover from the imperfection and the misalignment, to recreate a stronger bond or relationship with people."

"The way you do things really makes visible what you want to achieve... It's not about having a goal or having an ambition and saying, 'okay, ambition is so important that I need to find a way to accomplish it.' The way you try to achieve things is even more important."

"Most of the time we completely forget that the decision is good only when it is applied... making a decision in a shorter time and then having a very long or never full implementation, for me, it's not the best thing that an organization can do."

1. Embrace productive disagreement as a path to better solutions and stronger relationships
2. Focus on how you achieve goals, not just what you achieve
3. Create space for different voices and perspectives in decision-making
4. Build and leverage networks beyond your immediate organization
5. Practice self-awareness and be open to changing your narrative
6. Consider both adding and removing things in your life to flourish
7. Approach conflict with curiosity rather than...

In this episode of Women Leadership Reframe, co-host Ellie sits down with Marsha Larned, Managing Director, International Business at Institutional Investor, to explore her extensive global experience and its impact on her leadership style.

Marsha discusses her career journey from BNP Paribas to her current role as the Managing Director of a global business, highlighting the challenges of advocating from a distance, the importance of self-reflection and mentorship, and the development of intercultural skills.

The episode covers key themes like self-belief in leadership, the power of personal connections, and the balance of professionalism with vulnerability.

Marsha shares insights on modern leadership principles, including authenticity, flexibility, and fostering human-centric workplaces. The conversation underscores the value of mental health, trust, and taking risks for personal and professional growth.

Tips on creating organisational success through community culture and hybrid work environments are also discussed.

Key Discussion Points

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:20 Marsha Larned's Impressive Biography

01:52 Personal Insights: Who is Marsha Larned?

02:51 International Career and Leadership Journey

03:54 Advocating for Yourself and Your Business

05:42 Developing Self-Belief and Overcoming Challenges

07:25 Navigating Cultural Differences in Business

13:16 Balancing Professional and Personal Life

18:23 Building Trust and Delegating in Leadership

20:41 The Importance of Authenticity and Trust in Change Management

22:39 Advice to My Younger Self: Embrace Opportunities and Keep Perspective

25:04 Developing and Nurturing Female Talent in Organizations

30:23 Creating a Culture of Communication and Trust

32:26 The Drive for Adventure and Taking Risks

35:37 Modern Leadership: Balancing Flexibility and Human Connection

39:48 Final Thoughts on Human-Centric Leadership

Notable Quotes

"Use your strong side to tackle and help your weak side thrive." - Marsha Larned

"If you fast forward 10 years from now, you will not even remember this problem."

Connect with Marsha

Email: marsha.larned@gmail.com